PSSI President Erick Thohir has vehemently shut down rumors circulating in Malaysian media that he was the secret puppet master behind Vietnam’s devastating FIFA complaint against Malaysia’s national team.
Categorizing the rumors as utter “nonsense,” Thohir delivered a stinging clapback, making it crystal clear that sabotaging regional rivals is simply beneath his paygrade.
When pressed about a Malaysian portal’s accusations that he orchestrated the complaint—which temporarily crippled Malaysia’s squad by banning seven key heritage players—Thohir didn’t hold back.
Dismissing the idea of meddling in Harimau Malaya’s affairs, the Indonesian football chief delivered a brutal reality check to the rumor mill:
“Why would we interfere with the progress of other countries when we actually need each other to grow? We are looking to compete at the highest Asian level. So, excuse me, I am not in that class.” — Erick Thohir, PSSI President
Rather than engaging in a petty geopolitical tug-of-war, Thohir emphasized that ASEAN nations need to lift each other up. With Indonesia heavily investing in its own squad quality, Thohir pointed out that Southeast Asia’s real targets should be closing the massive gap with European and Latin American powerhouses.
While the drama off the pitch grabs headlines, the reality on the pitch for Malaysia remains precarious. The initial complaint from Vietnam to FIFA resulted in a shocking 12-month ban for seven of Malaysia’s crucial heritage/naturalized players.
Thanks to an eleventh-hour injunction by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the players have been temporarily cleared to lace up their boots. However, the sword of Damocles is still hanging over the squad.
Credit Photo : PSSI
